The horror game Alan Wake is often praised for its Twin Peaks-style storytelling in the same breath that people critique its somewhat clunky combat and movement. But the clunkiness of those mechanics is also one thing that helps make Alan Wake a tense and fraught experience.
Alan Wake has been enjoying something of a renaissance these last few years. The paranormal game Control released Alan Wake-crossover DLC, officially putting the two games into the same universe, after teasing the connection with several easter eggs in the main game. It was recently announced that Alan Wake will finally be remastered and rereleased in Fall 2021. The remaster will come with enhanced graphics, audio commentary from game director Sam Lake, and all of the game's DLC included in the package.
When game director Sam Lake announced Alan Wake Remastered at fan site The Sudden Stop, he confirmed that the remaster is "the original experience you fell in love with all those years ago. We did not want to change that." Lake goes on to confirm that game will receive a visual enhancement, as well as "choice next-generation upgrades," though he does not elaborate what those upgrades are. The gist of Lake's announcement seems to be that while Alan Wake Remastered will look better, it will still feel the same, which likely means that Remedy is not overhauling the game's combat or other mechanics. While some may bemoan the potential inclusion of the original game's clunkier aspects, those less-polished parts are actually integral to Alan Wake's tension.
How Alan Wake's Mechanics Fit the Character
Unlike many video game leads, Alan Wake is not an action star. He's just a writer trapped in a strange and perilous situation trying to survive. As a result, the fact that the mechanics of Alan Wake aren't super slick actually lends itself to making the player feel like the same average person as Wake. When Alan Wake goes to jump across a narrow gap, he doesn't stick it with the precision of Tomb Raider's Lara Croft. Instead, he stumbles forward a bit when he lands, making it easy for a player to overshoot a jump and fall to their death. The fact that it can be awkward to aim a gun or to navigate narrow walkways (especially when being chased by evil spirits) is a natural mechanical fit for someone who is not used to these life and death situations. While it can be frustrating as a player to have the imperfect Wake fall to his death, it also heightens the tension. As Alan Wake, a simple jump is a risky proposition, enhancing the feeling of playing as a normal mortal who could die at any moment. Likewise, the realization of being surrounded by ghosts is more alarming if a player knows they have to awkwardly stumble to a light source or fumble to aim their gun.
While Remedy could still end up giving Alan Wake's mechanics a polish, the way the main character handles is integral to that "original experience" Sam Lake seems to want to preserve. Those who wish to see the game embrace newer mechanics may get their chance if rumors are right about an Alan Wake sequel being in development.
Source: The Sudden Stop
Alan Wake will release in Fall 2021 on Epic Game Store, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S